Kyoji Horiguchi may have come up short in the biggest fight of his career to date, but the flyweight says he’s taken steps to ensure he remains in title contention.

The dynamic striker faced champion Demetrious Johnson this past April, and the latter outscored him throughout the bout, before submitting him in round five. The defeat ended Horiguchi’s nine fight winning streak, which included four victories with the UFC.

Up next, Horiguchi (15-2) will take on Chico Camus at UFC Fight Night 75 this weekend in Japan. While talking to UFC.com recently about his loss to Johnson, and what he took out of it, the Japanese star stated:

“It was a great experience for me to seek the flyweight title since it gave me a great hint of what I will have to do to get it done,” Horiguchi said. “I now know there is a different degree of attention between the champion and the rest of the fighters in this game. I believe I can be the champion and I am putting more effort into my grappling and my stand-up games to make sure I’m better every time I step into the Octagon.

“Of course I am seeking the title again,” he added. “But I have to put my focus on my next fight coming up.”

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has booked several more fighters for its September 26th card in Saitama, Japan, including several of that nation’s most accomplished competitors.

The promotion has announced that flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi will compete at… Read More

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Horiguchi (photo via UFC)

By FCF Staff

The Ultimate Fighting Championship has booked several more fighters for its September 26th card in Saitama, Japan, including several of that nation’s most accomplished competitors.

The promotion has announced that flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi will compete at the event, however, his opponent has yet to be determined. The Japanese star hasn’t fought since April, when he was submitted by champion Demetrious Johnson.

In addition, the UFC has confirmed that Horiguchi’s (15-2) mentor, “Kid” Yamamoto (18-6), will battle bantamweight Matt Hobar (9-3). In addition, a welterweight bout between Li Jingliang (10-3) and Kiichi Kunimoto (18-6-2) has been added to the card.

UFC FN 76 will be headlined by a heavyweight bout between Josh Barnett and Roy Nelson, and will also feature a middleweight scrap between Gegard Mousasi and Roan Carneiro.

Demetrious Johnson wasn’t able to finish Kyoji Horiguchi until the final second of their main event bout at UFC 186, but the flyweight champ dominated their high paced fight.

Early on, Horiguchi was able to land a few telling strikes, but as the bout wore on, Johnson took over the fight with his wrestling. Late in round five, Johnson took Horiguchi to the mat once again, and moved into a fight ending armbar at the 4:59 mark.

In the co-main event, “Rampage” Jackson outscored Fabio Maldonado with strikes throughout three rounds, and earned the unanimous decision win.

Here are the complete results from UFC 186, which was hosted by the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec.

Although Kyoji Horiguchi is a massive underdog heading into his title fight this Saturday with UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson, there’s no question that the Japanese fighter has continued to impress since he arrived in the organization.… Read More

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Horiguchi (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Although Kyoji Horiguchi is a massive underdog heading into his title fight this Saturday with UFC Flyweight Champion Demetrious Johnson, there’s no question that the Japanese fighter has continued to impress since he arrived in the organization.

Horiguchi made his way to the UFC in 2013, and since then the 24 year-old has scored wins over Dustin Pague, Darrell Montague, Jon delos Reyes and most recently Louis Gaudinot. The fighter’s path to a world championship fight of this magnitude, however, began when Horiguchi started learning Karate as a child. When you watch Horiguchi fight, the martial art’s influence is immediately evident in the talented striker’s game, and the flyweight is extremely proud of that fact.

Case in point, while speaking to UFC.com recently, Horiguchi relayed the following:

“I started karate when I was five years old,” he said. “Whatever I do in the Octagon is coming from karate, such as technique and foot movement. I would like to validate karate as the most powerful martial art to the fans. I am using my karate technique in MMA ‘as is’ since I believe in my karate.”

Horiguchi (15-1) will meet Johnson (21-2-1) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec, on April 25th.

UFC 186 will no longer feature a welterweight contender bout between Rory MacDonald and Hector Lombard, but it will see Demetrious Johnson put his flyweight title on the line.

The promotion has announced that MacDonald will no longer fight Lombard at the April 25th event, however, the reason for the change wasn’t provided. The statement added “updates” regarding both fighters would be provided “when available”.

Johnson (21-2-1) hasn’t fought since September when he submitted Chris Cariaso in the second round. The renowned fighter has gone undefeated in eight straight bouts.

Horiguchi (15-1) has gone 4-0 to begin his UFC run, and is coming off a decision win over Louis Gaudinot at UFC 182 last month.

UFC 186 will be hosted by Montreal’s Bell Centre and will also feature bantamweight champ TJ Dillashaw taking on Hector Lombard.

UFC 182 has received a notable flyweight fight, as the promotion has announced that Kyoji Horiguchi will take on fellow contender Louis Gaudinot at the event.

Horiguchi (14-1) has gone 3-0 to begin his UFC run, and as a result, the Japanese fighter currently sits at #12 in the promotion’s flyweight rankings. Most recently, at a Fight Night card last month, Horiguchi stopped Jon delos Reyes in the opening round.

Gaudinot (6-3) was supposed to fight Patrick Holohan at UFC FN 54 earlier this month, but had to withdraw due to injury. The flyweight allegedly tested positive for a diuretic after he defeated Phil Harris in March, and the bout was overturned to a no-contest. Gaudinot has denied taking any banned substance.

The American fighter is currently ranked #14 in the UFC’s 125 division.

UFC 182 will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, and will feature light-heavyweight champ Jon Jones taking on Daniel Cormier.

The line-up for the UFC’s May 10th return to Cincinnati continues to fill out, as the promotion has announced two flyweight bouts for the card. Chris Cariaso will battle Louis Smolka, and Kyoji Horiguchi will face Darrell… Read More

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Horiguchi (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

The line-up for the UFC’s May 10th return to Cincinnati continues to fill out, as the promotion has announced two flyweight bouts for the card. Chris Cariaso will battle Louis Smolka, and Kyoji Horiguchi will face Darrell Montague.

The card, which does not have a headlining fight yet, will be hosted by the city’s U.S. Bank Arena.

Cariaso (16-5) is coming off wins over Iliarde Santos and Danny Martinez, while Smolka (7-0) decisioned Alptekin Ozkilic in his Octagon debut this January.

Horiguchi (12-1) will be competing for the first time since his successful UFC debut in October, when he stopped Dustin Pague.

Montague (13-3) meanwhile was KO’d by John Dodson in his Octagon debut, which took place at UFC 166. Prior to that he had won four straight.

Some of the other bouts that have been booked for the May 10th event include Ed Herman vs. Rafael Natal, Manny Gamburyan vs. Nik Lentz and Justin Salas vs. Ben Wall.

The Ultimate Fighting Championships has added one of Japan’s top prospects, as the promotion has announced that Shooto 132 pound champ Kyoji Horiguchi will fight Dustin Pague on October 19th. The bantamweight scrap will be part of… Read More

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Horiguchi (photo via Tapology.com)

By FCF Staff

The Ultimate Fighting Championships has added one of Japan’s top prospects, as the promotion has announced that Shooto 132 pound champ Kyoji Horiguchi will fight Dustin Pague on October 19th. The bantamweight scrap will be part of UFC 166, which will be hosted by Houston’s Toyota Center.

The 22 year-old Horiguchi (11-1) has won five straights bouts while competing for Vale Tudo Japan and Shooto, and is coming off a fifth round, stoppage win over Shintaro Ishiwatari in July. The Krazy Bee fighter also holds a unanimous decision win over UFC vet Ian Loveland.

Pague (11-8), meanwhile, has lost three straight fights and is coming off a split decision loss to Yves Jabouin at UFC 161 in June. The TUF 14 vet is 1-4 in his last five fights.

UFC 166 will be headlined by a heavyweight tilt between champion Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos. In the co-main-event, Daniel Cormier will battle heavyweight vet Roy Nelson.